The Defense is now a Walking MASH unit

[selmaborntidefan]

Should the fans even bother watching the game ?

In light of the fact SOME of us are old enough to have watched the embarrassing spectacle of 2000 USM broadcast nationally, I really hate to think what it's going to be like when Alabama regresses to the mean of college football, which is inevitable.

Some of us, in fact, are old enough to have seen the 1982 USM loss that ended an 18-year home winning streak. I didn't see it because I lived in Germany, but I'm old enough to have seen it.


And we even have some who watched Nebraska pulverize Alabama in a national title game, 38-6.


If you can't tune in this upcoming game......featuring a team that couldn't even beat Syracuse........

 

[tidefanbeezer]

It sucks losing Moses, but it's not as big a loss with Wilson appearing to be back and ready to play and a serviceable Holcomb as back-up. Also have to assume that Evans will be healthier than he has been most of the year which should help up the middle as well.

Thompson's injury stinks but:
1) We don't know the seriousness of it yet. Could be just a bruise.
2) We have a guy on the team that can literally play every position in the secondary at an All-America level. We can slide Minkah back there if need be.

 

[Junkman]

CNS with a full month to game plan. The O Line is healthy. Our D is gonna be just fine. Bama by 11.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

In light of the fact SOME of us are old enough to have watched the embarrassing spectacle of 2000 USM broadcast nationally, I really hate to think what it's going to be like when Alabama regresses to the mean of college football, which is inevitable.

Some of us, in fact, are old enough to have seen the 1982 USM loss that ended an 18-year home winning streak. I didn't see it because I lived in Germany, but I'm old enough to have seen it.


And we even have some who watched Nebraska pulverize Alabama in a national title game, 38-6.


If you can't tune in this upcoming game......featuring a team that couldn't even beat Syracuse........

And some of us remember 1957, when we won two and tied one...

 

[Tideflyer]

In light of the fact SOME of us are old enough to have watched the embarrassing spectacle of 2000 USM broadcast nationally, I really hate to think what it's going to be like when Alabama regresses to the mean of college football, which is inevitable.

Some of us, in fact, are old enough to have seen the 1982 USM loss that ended an 18-year home winning streak. I didn't see it because I lived in Germany, but I'm old enough to have seen it.


And we even have some who watched Nebraska pulverize Alabama in a national title game, 38-6.


If you can't tune in this upcoming game......featuring a team that couldn't even beat Syracuse........

Yep, watched every one of those debacles. That Nebraska team was one of the best I`ve ever seen. When Johnny Rodgers fielded a punt, my Dad stood up and walked out, saying " That`s that. " Of course, Rodgers ran it back. Dad said, " You just don`t kick a ball to a guy like that. " One of the many things Daddy was right about!

 

[Con]

And some of us remember 1957, when we won two and tied one...

Heaven help you administrators on this board if we ever get to that point again.

 

[Intl.Aperture]

Ohio State went into the playoff coming off a 59-0 win over #11 Wisconsin in the Big10 Championship game. Alabama is coming off its worst performance in years.

Which is better for Alabama unless you think Nick Saban is going to let one of his teams turn in repeat performances?

Let's just play the percentages for a minute and toss out the Ohio State comparison. No one will disagree with you that Alabama played one of it's worst games in years against Auburn. But statistically speaking in the Nick Saban era, outside of 2007, when have we ever laid 2 giant eggs in a row?

I'm not saying we win walking away and I'm not even guaranteeing a win (I think we have the ability to win but hey, it's football) but I feel very confident that this is going to be a competitive game played well by both teams and I really go expect to see more variety on the offensive side of the ball.

It's all up for debate after that but if we seriously think Nick Saban is going to sit for a month and twiddle his thumbs instead of tossing a rag over his shoulder, throwing open the hood, and getting his hands dirty by tweaking and fiddling with a turbo-powered V8 that is capable of putting out 400hp but is only giving us 200 at the moment, then we aren't paying attention to the program's odds.

 

[CoachJeff]

2008 and 2013

 

[B1GTide]

 

[Intl.Aperture]

2008 and 2013

Oh dang.

Fair point. The obvious rebuttal is that we were playing for nothing in those 2 proceeding games. Nothing on the line, championship up for grabs. But still, I did ask "When have we ever laid 2 eggs in a row?" and that is the correct answer.

But to be more specific, when the games have been of national importance, when have we ever coughed up 2 bad performances in a row? I know that's specific, but do you REALLY expect to see the exact same team take the field against Clemson?

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Heaven help you administrators on this board if we ever get to that point again.

Well, we never have since, despite some here remembering "bad" years. The year before I arrived at Bama, 1956, we had the identical record. In 1955, our record was 0-10-0. I definitely didn't go to Bama for the football program...

 

[Saban4Ever]

CNS with a full month to game plan. The O Line is healthy. Our D is gonna be just fine. Bama by 11.

Sure hope you are right. I know Saban is the best at game planning, especially with a month to do so. But we have to remember that Dabo and his coaches know how to game plan also. Maybe he and his players are more over confident, but I doubt it.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

And some of us remember 1957, when we won two and tied one...

I read about that period of time, and it absolutely boggles my mind. I lived through the first losing season since then in 1984, which was pretty tough, and that monstrosity known as the Dubious Era.

I mean, even Shula at least - even with all of his obvious limitations and the sanctions that we have to admit didn't help - he at least put a team on the field that was hanging tough and MOSTLY losing close games. I thought the DuBose tenure was worse than Shula even though Dubious won an SEC title (which - let's be honest - came with Stallings's last recruiting class that included Samuels and Alexander).

I cannot even begin to imagine what the 50s would be like if it ever rained that way on us again.


My buddy is a lifelong Washington Huskies fan. Nine years ago or so, they went the ENTIRE season without winning a single game. They lost FIFTEEN games in a row.

He was content last year just with them making the playoff.

 

[CB4]

In light of the fact SOME of us are old enough to have watched the embarrassing spectacle of 2000 USM broadcast nationally, I really hate to think what it's going to be like when Alabama regresses to the mean of college football, which is inevitable.

Some of us, in fact, are old enough to have seen the 1982 USM loss that ended an 18-year home winning streak. I didn't see it because I lived in Germany, but I'm old enough to have seen it.


And we even have some who watched Nebraska pulverize Alabama in a national title game, 38-6.


If you can't tune in this upcoming game......featuring a team that couldn't even beat Syracuse........

I was around on both accounts.

Am I concerned? Yes. Are we "up against it?" Probably.

But I remember many times throughout my 50+ years as a Bama fan where "all looked lost". I remember being a two touchdown underdog rolling into the coliseum against USC in 1971. In 1977, going back out to Los Angeles to face the #1 Trojans again as a underdog. I remember 1992 team that "shouldn't even be on the same field as Miami".

And there have been others.

What do I believe? I believe we can win. Somehow, some way. And if we don't, I'll be disappointed. But the sun will rise on January 2nd regardless and I'll begin looking forward to 2018.

Just call me "Pollyanna".

 

[UAH]

In light of the fact SOME of us are old enough to have watched the embarrassing spectacle of 2000 USM broadcast nationally, I really hate to think what it's going to be like when Alabama regresses to the mean of college football, which is inevitable.
Some of us, in fact, are old enough to have seen the 1982 USM loss that ended an 18-year home winning streak. I didn't see it because I lived in Germany, but I'm old enough to have seen it.

And we even have some who watched Nebraska pulverize Alabama in a national title game, 38-6.
If you can't tune in this upcoming game......featuring a team that couldn't even beat Syracuse........

My thought recently has been just how spoiled we have become under Saban. In Bryant's time Bama didn't dominate every game In the 60's SEC games were always wars with Tenn being a toss up game year after year. Tenn managed to dominate during the Doug Dickey era in the late 60's. Ga. Tech, Florida and Ga. were always very close games. I always remember that the 65 NC team managed to beat MSU 10-7 in Starkville on a long TD from Stapler to Homan. Does that sound similar to today?

As mentioned here earlier the SEC couldn't compete with the Big 8 when Neb, Okla., Colorado were fully integrated and had such great teams. Also Bryant never managed to beat Darrel Royal who owned Texas from a recruiting standpoint.

The point is even the mythical Bryant had up and downs with a number of coaches on near equal footing.

 

[UAH]

I was around on both accounts.
Am I concerned? Yes. Are we "up against it?" Probably.
But I remember many times throughout my 50+ years as a Bama fan where "all looked lost". I remember being a two touchdown underdog rolling into the coliseum against USC in 1971. In 1977, going back out to Los Angeles to face the #1 Trojans again as a underdog. I remember 1992 team that "shouldn't even be on the same field as Miami".
And there have been others.
What do I believe? I believe we can win. Somehow, some way. And if we don't, I'll be disappointed. But the sun will rise on January 2nd regardless and I'll begin looking forward to 2018.
Just call me "Pollyanna".

Very well said. The 1977 USC game proves beyond a doubt that if we can beat even a dominate opponent to the outside damage can be done with the running game. It was an amazing offensive performance that day. If we adapted that type of game plan and executed that well we could indeed beat most teams.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

This is epic meltdown thread LOL. When we win it all, I'll be sure to bump this one up and remind everyone. I'm kidding. Calm down everyone. We'll be fine. Thompson is okay.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

You know, I see post after post (in just about every thread on the subject) about “what if the team that lost to auburn shows up?” Well, what if the team that lost to a 4-8 Syracuse shows up?” It could happen. Oh, what If the team that lost to auburn and the team that lost to 4-8 Syracuse show up?

 

[pluckngrit]

2008 and 2013

Do/did you coach your players to be this gloomy or pessimistic?

 

[bamamc1]

I hope our tight ends have a big night. They haven't covered OJ Howard in 2 years lol.